• Best For: Design-conscious business travellers, harbour-view hunters, couples who like club lounges, and anyone curious about Hong Kong’s next generation of hoteliers.
• Feel: Contemporary, academic-meets-luxury; a polished urban retreat with harbour vistas and a quietly studious undercurrent from PolyU next door.
• What Stands Out: Teaching-hotel concept, generous 36 sqm rooms with floor-to-ceiling harbour views, MICHELIN-listed Above & Beyond, 9th-floor wellness hub with heated rooftop pool and Angsana Spa.
• What We Don’t Like: Tsim Sha Tsui East address sits a short walk from the buzzier core; The Market’s buffet can feel busy unless you plan reservation times carefully.
• Why Choose Hotel ICON: An independent, design-forward Kowloon hotel that combines serious hospitality training with harbour-view luxury and genuinely strong value.

You don’t step into Hotel ICON and think “training ground”; you think “someone here takes hospitality very seriously.” The 28-storey glass tower on Science Museum Road rises opposite The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, yet the lobby feels more design house than campus annex, with warm woods, sleek stone, and, running along one side, GREEN’s dramatic vertical garden—a living wall that softens the geometry. When I arrived mid-afternoon, the check-in line moved briskly; staff worked with formality and precision that spoke of strong training, but I could also see supervisors quietly coaching junior team members at the back. Here the concept becomes clear: the world’s first fully integrated teaching and research hotel, wholly owned by PolyU and extending its School of Hotel & Tourism Management into a functioning, upscale operation. Design names like Rocco Yim, Terence Conran, and Vivienne Tam have left a clear imprint, from the double-height wellness floor to the fashion-inflected accents, tying academic rigour to a recognisably Hong Kong aesthetic overlooking Victoria Harbour.

Rooms at ICON underscore the property’s academic precision with practical luxury. The ICON 36 and Club 36 Partial Harbour View categories, at 36 square metres, are generous by Hong Kong standards; stepping into one of these on an upper floor, my eye went straight to the floor-to-ceiling glass framing the skyline and harbour. The layout is logical, with an entry corridor providing ample storage, then an open sleeping and working zone where a large, deeply cushioned bed faces both television and view. The bathroom feels more “urban residential” than hotel, with sleek finishes, backlit mirrors, and, in many units, a separate tub and shower with proper water pressure. After dropping my laptop on the desk, discovering an in-room printer felt unexpectedly business-friendly—the sort of detail that tells you someone with operational experience was in the planning meetings. Complimentary non-alcoholic minibar items, a well-stocked tea and coffee set-up, strong Wi‑Fi, effective air conditioning, and those much-promoted comfortable beds all contribute to a stay that feels thoroughly thought through rather than flashy.

ICON’s approach to eating and unwinding feels cohesive. On level 28, Above & Beyond functions as both club lounge and destination Cantonese restaurant, with panoramic harbour views that rival Hong Kong’s grand dames. Taking the lift up for an evening reservation, the space struck me as urbane rather than ostentatious, service measured and confident, which is hardly surprising for a venue recommended in the MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong & Macau and regularly cited in regional dining lists. Down on level two, The Market’s buffet has long had a local following; at dinner, the room buzzed with Hong Kong families and hotel guests, and the awards from platforms like OpenRice and U Favourite Food Awards felt justified, though I was glad to have a reservation at peak hours. GREEN, at lobby level, becomes an informal living room throughout the day; nursing a coffee beside the vertical garden while emails loaded on my laptop was a pleasant reminder that this is a serious design hotel as much as an academic exercise.

The 9th-floor wellness deck is where the hotel’s design and operational thinking align most persuasively. A heated, open-air rooftop pool runs along the façade, lined with sun beds and armchairs angled towards Victoria Harbour, and early morning laps with the skyline coming to life beyond the glass were a highlight of my stay. Behind it, a 24-hour Health Club stocked with Technogym cardio and weight equipment faces the same sweep of water, and it’s easy to forget you’re on a teaching floor until you notice a trainee discreetly shadowing a senior attendant. Angsana Spa, with Banyan Tree Thailand Spa Academy‑certified therapists and Angsana oils and candles, occupies a quiet corner of this level, while the Timeless Lounge, also harbour-facing, bridges leisure and practicality with coffee, grilled bites, a craft beer poured at approximately -4°C, and a pool table.

Hotel ICON’s service philosophy, articulated as “We Love to Care,” reads less like marketing once you’ve interacted with the team. Staff throughout my stay were consistently warm and professional, from housekeeping, who managed to refresh the room in a tight window between meetings, to the concierge, who used the hotel’s complimentary shuttle schedule to map out connections through Tsim Sha Tsui’s MTR stations and malls. The location, in Tsim Sha Tsui East, sits slightly removed from Nathan Road’s intensity, which some guests will welcome; a 10–15 minute walk leads to the Avenue of Stars and promenade for the nightly Symphony of Lights, while the free area shuttle and nearby Hung Hom MTR keep the rest of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island practical. In the wider market, ICON positions itself as upscale-to-luxury, and the long-standing four-star recognition from Forbes Travel Guide, held for at least eleven consecutive years, alongside its 2025 One MICHELIN Key, places it firmly among the city’s serious hotels.

Value is where Hotel ICON distinguishes itself. This is an independent, homegrown Hong Kong property rather than a global chain, yet in several respects it plays in the same conversation as the city’s flagships. Rooms are larger than many competitors at comparable price points, harbour views are front and centre, and the dining programme includes an award-winning buffet and a MICHELIN-listed Cantonese restaurant. Direct bookings through the hotel’s website can bring extras such as priority upgrades, spa credit, daily breakfast for two, and various early-bird or stay-longer savings, which further tip the equation in guests’ favour. There are trade-offs: those who insist on being directly on Canton Road or atop an MTR interchange might find the slight remove less convenient, and The Market’s popularity demands a bit of planning. But for travellers who value design, service training, and harbour views over brand-name logos, this teaching and research hotel delivers a level of polished hospitality that more established luxury players would recognise and, in some cases, do well to study.

Read full Hotel ICON review here. 

• Best For: Design-conscious business travelers, couples, and style-focused leisure stays near the Convention Centre and Causeway Bay.  
• Feel: Residential Hong Kong apartment meets polished boutique hotel, with warm lighting, velvet textures, and a calm, clubby buzz.  
• What Stands Out: Tara Bernerd’s petrol blue and amber palette, jewel-toned velvet, marble bathrooms with Crittall doors, destination-worthy dining, and genuinely attentive service.  
• What We Don’t Like: Compact rooms and limited storage for longer stays, a modest lobby that feels tight when several groups arrive at once, and no pool for resort-seekers.  
• Why Choose The Hari Hong Kong: For 5-star polish and thoughtful design in Wan Chai that feels like a sophisticated city apartment rather than a grand, anonymous tower.

There’s a particular kind of Hong Kong moment when the city’s neon, traffic and humidity fall away in a single step, and you suddenly find yourself in a cocoon of calm. The Hari Hong Kong leans into that contrast. Floor-to-ceiling shelving, lined with books, objects and art, frames the lobby and lounge so it reads less like a hotel reception and more like a very well-appointed living room. When I checked in mid-afternoon, the front desk handled a small queue briskly, although a few families with luggage did make the compact space feel close. This is the Harilela family’s Hong Kong outpost of their small luxury brand, and Tara Bernerd’s interiors give it a distinctly residential tone: timber panelling, natural linen walls, muted grey marble, and those recurring amber accents that warm everything up. Triple-height greenery at The Terrace and Zoku pulls the city indoors, too. You feel that “neighbourhood’s living room” positioning in how locals filter in and out, treating it as much a social hub as a hotel.

Upstairs, the rooms follow the same script of grown-up comfort. Even in a standard King, timber panelling and velvet upholstery keep things from feeling purely functional, while antique brass Crittall doors slide back to reveal marble bathrooms with walk-in rainforest showers. My corner room wrapped around the building with floor-to-ceiling glass, which meant Causeway Bay’s towers and slivers of harbour light at night, though storage space was tight once I unpacked for several days. That compactness is typical for Hong Kong, but longer-stay guests will need to be organised. Practicalities hit the right notes: 4K flat-screen TV, soundproofing that muted hallway noise, strong Wi-Fi for working, Nespresso and kettle, and The Hari’s own La Bottega bath products that gave the bathroom a subtle signature scent. In the top-floor Hari Suite with Terrace, the scale shifts significantly, with an open-plan layout, a separate living area, private bar and terrace, and a complimentary, refilled minibar and Champagne that signal proper 5-star treatment.

Location is where the hotel quietly flexes. Sitting between Wan Chai and Causeway Bay MTR stations, it links the commercial pull of Causeway Bay’s malls with the more textured streets around the Blue House Cluster, Lee Tung Avenue and the tram lines. I walked to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre without much effort, then later ducked around the corner for local snacks. Back at the hotel, you don’t need to leave for a strong meal: Lucciola on the first floor serves breakfast from 7 to 11 am, with continental, Asian and American options plus vegetarian and vegan choices. My late-morning plate and coffee there fuelled laptop time more reliably than many 5-star buffets in the city. Zoku and its adjacent Terrace, both on the second floor, bring the energy up in the evenings with a Japanese restaurant crowd and alfresco drinks in front of a lush living wall, while The Lounge stays in quietly convivial mode for all-day snacks and drinks.

The Hari Hong Kong positions itself as an upscale, design-forward boutique with 5-star service, and that promise mostly lands. Interiors feel considered rather than flashy, staff are warm and efficient without overacting the luxury script, and the 210-room scale, including three top-floor suites, gives enough capacity for business guests and families while still feeling intimate. There are trade-offs. There’s no pool, so resort-lovers should look elsewhere, and the lobby can feel undersized at busy times. Storage in regular rooms might frustrate heavy packers or very long stays. For design-minded travelers who prioritise a stylish base in Wan Chai over sprawling facilities, though, the value is solid, especially given the quality of beds, bathrooms, soundproofing and on-site dining. Couples, solo business travelers headed to HKCEC, and anyone who responds to timber, velvet and curated art more than chandeliers will find The Hari Hong Kong exactly the kind of quiet, confident luxury that holds up to repeat visits.

Read full The Hari Hong Kong review here. 

• Best For: Trade-fair regulars, business travelers who actually use the gym, and families wanting a central Hong Kong Island base without going full luxury.  
• Feel: Busy, polished urban hotel with a warm, international buzz and a practical, businesslike backbone softened by thoughtful family touches.  
• What Stands Out: 24-hour InBalance Fitness Centre, larger-than-expected outdoor pool with kids’ section, short covered walk to HKCEC, strong breakfast buffet with Halal section, multiple on-site dining options.  
• What We Don’t Like: Rooms run compact and some older categories feel dated beside the refreshed lobby, Wi-Fi performance can fluctuate and rates spike around major convention dates.  
• Why Choose Novotel Century Hong Kong: For a Wan Chai address that makes HKCEC days, family trips, and post-meeting laps in a real pool all equally doable in one efficient mid-tier package. 

Stepping off the tram on Jaffe Road, you’re hit with Hong Kong’s full sensory blast: office workers zigzagging around suitcases, neon signage stacked to the sky, the metallic chime of doors sliding shut. It’s the kind of corner where you half expect the city to swallow you whole, which is why that first step into a lobby that actually breathes feels like a reset. Novotel Century Hong Kong sits on the corner of Jaffe Road and Stewart Road, surrounded by office towers, neon signs and the ding of trams gliding past. Walking over from Wan Chai MTR around mid-afternoon, the transition from dense sidewalk traffic into the cool lobby feels immediate. The ground floor has been fully reworked into a contemporary, bright space, with light neutral walls, pale wood accents and soft seating that reads more “international lifestyle” than old-school business hotel. Lighting is layered rather than harsh, which helps soften the verticality of a 23-floor, 509-room tower. The design doesn’t chase drama; it quietly signals that this is a workhorse property that has kept itself updated where it matters most to modern travelers.

Guest rooms follow the same understated, functional brief. Standard and Superior categories lean compact by international expectations, yet feel usable for Hong Kong Island, with carpeted floors, light to medium brown wood tones and gray accents that keep things calm. A light wooden headboard with integrated reading lights frames the bed, and the mattress lands in that firm-but-forgiving zone frequent travelers expect. Storage is efficient rather than generous, and some bathrooms in older categories show their age compared with the sharper lobby, though everything reads clean and well kept. Work-friendly touches matter here: a proper desk, decent task lighting, in-room safe, kettle, mini fridge and ironing gear either in the room or readily supplied. Wi-Fi is complimentary, though one evening streaming did slow and it felt easier to shift emails to the desk instead. Service fits the brand’s reputation, with English-speaking staff handling requests quickly and housekeeping keeping rooms reset and orderly without fuss.

The Wan Chai address is the headline. HKCEC sits an easy eight-minute walk away via a covered walkway, which makes trade-show mornings feel manageable rather than frantic. Wan Chai and Exhibition Centre MTR stations both sit within a few minutes’ walk, the Star Ferry pier is close for quick hops to Tsim Sha Tsui, and Causeway Bay’s shopping streets unfold after a short stroll. The tram stop right outside adds that classically Hong Kong option. Inside the hotel, lifestyle is anchored by facilities that go beyond standard mid-tier boxes. The 24-hour InBalance Fitness Centre is properly equipped, with multiple treadmills, ellipticals and a real free-weight area; at 7 am it feels like a gym people genuinely use, not a token room. One level out, the outdoor pool is a rare treat in this price bracket: a good-sized main pool edged by high-rises and a separate shallow children’s section that families gravitate to. Food-wise, Le Café drives the culinary heartbeat, from an extensive breakfast buffet with a designated Halal section to seafood-led themed dinners. Around 8:30 in the morning, the room hums with both business and family tables, and the buffet shows range beyond the usual limp pastries. AK’s bar + lounge near the lobby pours cocktails with live music on some evenings, while Pepino Cucina Italiana upstairs offers a dimmer, more intimate Italian dinner setting that feels like a clear step up from generic hotel pasta.

Novotel Century Hong Kong slots neatly into the upper mid-range: a 4-star, Accor-branded workhorse that leans on location, fitness and food rather than pretensions of luxury. Guest ratings consistently highlight its address, cleanliness and staff, which lines up with the stay rhythm here. Rooms will feel tight for travelers used to sprawling resorts, and certain categories would benefit from the same design refresh as the lobby, but they deliver functional comfort, strong air conditioning and practical layouts, especially for short city breaks. Pricing can spike during major HKCEC events, so planners with flexible dates will see stronger value. For business travelers, the combination of walkable convention access, on-site meeting spaces and work-ready rooms is the main draw. For families, the kids’ pool, connecting and family configurations, and Novotel’s child-stay policy make central Hong Kong more manageable. For a smart, reliable base on Hong Kong Island where the gym actually gets used, the pool feels like a real facility and breakfast feels considered, this is one of the more compelling mid-tier picks in Wan Chai.

Read full Novotel Century Hong Kong review here.